Division molding assembly for a windshield



I Jan. 26, 1937. H R ET AL 2,969,032

DIVISION MOLDING ASSEMBLY FOR A WINDSHIELD Filed Jan; 18, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet 1 r r I 15 fiif Z J r WENTORS 4 E7710?? 62mm dzmpsonATTORNEYS Jan. '26, 1937.

A. J. FISHER ET AL DIVISION MOLDING ASSEMBLY FOR A WINDSHIELD Filed Jan.18, 1936 3 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTORS my W W m, @M WV ATTORNEYS Jan. 26,1937. J H R ET AL 2,069,032

DIVISION MOLDING ASSEMBLY FOR A WINDSHIELD v I Filed Jan. 18, 1936 sSheets-Sheet s ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE DIVISION MOLDING ASSEMBLY FOR A WINDSHIELD i Delaware ApplicationJanuary 18, 1936, Serial No. 59,676

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a division molding assembly for a windshield.

It is an object of this invention to produce a molding assembly foreffectively sealing a window glass panel and more particularly foreffectively sealing the joint which occurs between the adjacent verticaledges of the glass panels forming a V type windshield for an automobile.

In an automotive vehicle the strains and stresses placed upon the bodyduring fabrication and use cause a certain amount of body weave ordistortion which has resulted in the breaking of window glass panels. Itis an object of this invention to produce a window glass moldingassembly which will effectively seal the window glass joint against rainand Weather and which is sufficiently flexible to give the window glassa limited floating mounting and thereby prevent glass breakage due tothis body distortion or weave.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of an automotive vehicle bodyshowing a V windshield and the division molding assembly.

- Fig. 2 is a section along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the decorative metal molding.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the molded rubber weatherstrip.

Fig. 5 is a detail of an anchor plate for anchoring the decorative metalmolding and rubber Weatherstrip to the inside retaining plate.

Fig. 6 is a section along the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section along the line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a detail of the windshield frame Weatherstrip.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through the windshield showing a modifiedform of the division molding.

Fig. 10 is an assembly View of the outside portion of the modified formof the division molding.

Figs. 11 and 12 are details of the anchor plate for the modified form ofthe division molding.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown an automobilebody I having a windshield frame 2 in which is mounted the glass panels3 and 4 which comprise the V windshield. The joint between the outeredges of the panels 3 and 4 and the windshield frame 2 are sealed by arubber Weatherstrip 5 in the form of a channel.

.The rubber Weatherstrip channel 5 extends com- .pletely around thewindow opening. The rubber .channel 5 is provided with a web 6 whichextends across the channel groove from one upstanding .lip to the otherbetween the adjacent vertical Q5 edges 1 and 8 of the glass panels 3 and4 respectively. This web seals the extreme lower and upper portions ofthe joint between the adjacent vertical edges 1 and 8 of the windshieldglass panels.

For sealing the joint extending between the vertical edges '1 and 8 fromthe top to the bottom of the windshield frame 2 it is proposed to use aflexible division molding assembly. Such a molding assembly musteffectively seal this joint against the weather, be flexible enough topermit a limited relative movement between the glass panels 3 and 4 andyet securely bind the two panels together. These objects have beenachieved by fabricating the division molding assembly from inner andouter metal members 9 and ID with an intermediate rubber sealing memberIt. The outer molding I0 preferably comes in the form of a flexibleV-section sheet metal-channel having its edges inwardly turned as at l2to provide retainer flanges as described below. The outer face of themolding l0 may be chromium plated or otherwise suitably finished.

As shown in Fig. 4 the Weatherstrip H preferably comprises a moldedhomogeneous rubber strip having a V-section portion l3 which conformsto, and fits inside the molding ID, a pair of lips M which are spacedfrom the V-section to form longitudinal grooves l5 for receiving theflanges l2 of the molding l0, and a rib l6 which projects inwardlybetween the vertical edges 1 and 3 of the glass panels to seal the same.

The inside metal retainer strip 9 may be grained or otherwise suitablyfinished. A rubber or fabric strip I1 is positioned between the insidestrip 9 and the glass panels 3 and 4. The metal molding I 0 and strip 9are preferably made from thin gauge metal so that they are flexible.Preferably the molded member ID is made from thin gauge stock so that italone may be easily flexed manually and even digitally. At the same timethe channel section of the molding l0 gives it considerable strength inview of the thin gauge stock from which it is made.

To attain the flexibility of the division molding assembly and at thesame time efiectively secure the inside retainer strip 9 to the moldingl0 and Weatherstrip ll, these members are secured together by aplurality of screws l8 and anchor plates I 9 which preferably are moldedin the rubber strip l l. The anchor plates l9 are provided with tappedopenings 20 for receiving the threaded end of the screws IS. The lengthof each anchor plate I 9 is no greater than necessary to secure itwithin the rubber strip II and molding l0 and to obtain a secure tiebetween the rel I. The length of the anchor plates I9 will Vary, thoseused herein are about one inch long and the distance between the anchorplates will likewise vary to suit the conditions obtaining. However, thepoint is that the anchor plates should 7 be spaced a sumcient distanceapart to permit secure anchoring of the molding assembly to the glasspanels 3 and 4 and yet at the same time leave the molding assemblyflexible.

In assembling the molding assembly to the windshield glass panels themolding member I0 is slipped on to the rubber Weatherstrip with theflanges I4 sliding in the grooves IS. The rubber strip l I may be soapedor otherwise lubricated to facilitate sliding the molding I!) thereon.It will be noted that the anchor members I9 are positioned on the insideof the flanges l2 so that the flanges l2 retain the anchor plates withinthe molding Ill. The rubber rib it engages between the vertical edges 1and 8 of the glass panels and the lips l t engage between the edgeportions of the outer face of the panels and the turned in flanges l2,of the molding Ill. The screws 18 .are then threaded into the anchorplates l9 and turned down to tightly secure the entire assemblyinsealing relation with the panels 3 and 4. It is evident that themolding assembly will efiective 1y seal the joint between the panels andyet be flexible enough to permit a limited movement of r the windshieldpanels thereby preventing glass breakage.

Referring to Figs. 9 through 12, there is shown a modified form of thedivision molding. The modified form of division molding is the same asthe principal form except that different anchor plates are integrated.This modified anchor plate comprises a single strip of metal having aplurality of plate portions 30 which are tied together by integral thinstrips of metal 3|. Each plate portion is embossed as at 32 and theembossment internally threaded as at 33 for receiving the screw 3 3-.This anchor strip is molded in the rubber Weatherstrip H the same as theanchor plates E9. The connecting strips 3| posi tively space the plates30 and prevent any slipping of the platesflil one toward the othereither during the molding operation or thereafter. This positive spacingof the plates 30 by the thin strips 3i necessarily insures positive andaccurate spacing of the screw holes 32 and thus facilitates the assemblyof the entire division molding to the window glass panels. The stripportions 3! are relatively narrow'and thin and consequently when theanchor strip is molded in the rubber eatherstrip II the assembly iseasily flexed and bent .r

In the principal, aswell as in themodified form of the above describeddivision molding, flexibility of the molding is assured and therebyrelative movement of the adjoining glass panels and the window frame ispermitted and breakage of the window glasses prevented.

I claim:

1. 'In an automotive vehicle having a window opening and a pair of glasspanels mounted in the window opening to form a closure and having theiradjacent edges spaced to form a gap, a flexible window seal for sealingthe adjacent edges of the said window glass panels and closing the saidgap comprising a distortable rubber eatherstrip having a rib. portionpositioned in the said gap and llip portions overlapping and sealingagainst the edges of the panels, an outer 'mold'mg in the formof amanually flexible metal tainer 9 and the molding l0 and Weatherstripchannel having inwardly turned lips in interlocking engagement with saidWeatherstrip, a plurality of .anchor plates positioned within thechannel and molded in the said rubber weatherstrip at spaced intervals,and means passing through the inside retainer plate, Weatherstrip andanchor plates for binding the said members together and to the windowpanels.

2. In an automotive vehicle having a window opening and a pair of glasspanels mounted in the window opening to form a closure and having theiradjacent edges spaced to form a gap, a flexible window seal for sealingthe adjacent edges of the'said window glass panels and closing the saidgap comprising a distortable rubber weatherstrip having a rib portionpositioned in the said gap and lip portions overlapping the edges of thepanels, the said Weatherstrip also having a portion arranged to fitwithin the outer molding and having a longitudinal groove on each sidefor interlocking engagement with the inturned lips of the outer moldingchannel, an outer molding in the form of a manually flexible metalchannel having inwardly turned lips, a plurality of anchor plates moldedin the said Weatherstrip and positioned within the said channel behindthe inwardly turned lips at spaced intervals, and means passing throughthe inside retainer plate, weatherstrip and anchor plates for bindingthe said members together and to the window panels;

3. In an automotive vehicle having a window opening and a pair of glasspanels having their adjacent edges spaced to form'a gap and forming aclosure for the said window opening, a flexible window seal comprising adistortable rubber Weatherstrip having a rib portion positioned in andfilling the said gap and engaging the edges of the said glass panels toseal the same and a pair of lips overlapping and sealing against theouter faces of the glass panels, a plurality of anchor plates moldedinto the rubber Weatherstrip at spaced intervals having threadedopenings arranged to receive screws passing through the inside retainerstrip' and Weatherstrip, an inside retainer strip positioned on theinside of the panels and overlapping the panels on each side of the gap,an outside molding in the form of a thin, flexible metal V channelhaving its lipsturned inwardly into the Weatherstrip for tying themolding to the Weatherstrip and locking the anchor plates within themolding, screws passing through the inside retainer plate and gapbetween the window panels and into the anchor plates for drawing theWeatherstrip assembly into a weather-tight sealing engagement with thewindow panels. 5

- 4. In an automotive vehicle having a window opening and a pair ofglass panels having their adjacent edges spaced to form a gap andforming a closure for the said window opening, a flexible window sealcomprising a distortable soft rubber Weatherstrip having a rib portionpositioned in and filling the said gap and engaging the edges of thesaid glass panels to seal thesame, the said Weatherstrip having a Vshaped portion extending along the outside of the gap and overlappingthe edge portions of the window glass panels on each side of the gap,the said V portion having a groove extending along each side, aplurality of anchor plates molded into the rubber weatherstrip at spacedintervals within the outside molding having threaded openings, a thinmetal re 'tainer strip positioned on the inside of the'panels andoverlapping the panels on each side of the gap, a thin manually flexibleV channel molding positioned over the said Weatherstrip and havinginwardly turned lips in interlocking engagement with the saidWeatherstrip in the said grooves for tying the molding to theWeatherstrip and locking the anchor plates within said molding, andscrews passing through the inside retainer plate and gap between thewindow panels and into the threaded openings of the anchor plates fordrawing the inside retainer strip, rubber Weatherstrip and molding intoa weathertight sealing engagement with the window panels.

5. In an automotive vehicle having a. window opening and a pair of glasspanels mounted in the window opening to form a closure and having theiradjacent edges spaced to form a gap, a flexible window seal for sealingthe adjacent edges of the said window glass panels and closing the saidgap comprising a distortable rubber weatherstrip having a rib portionpositioned in the said gap and lip portions overlapping the edges of thepanels, an outer molding in the form of a manually flexible metalchannel having inwardly turned lips in interlocking engagement with saidweatherstrip, a plurality of anchor plates positioned within thechannel, means for positively holding the anchor plates in spacedrelation, and means passing through the inside retainer plate,weatherstrip and anchor plates for binding the said members together andto the window panels 6. In an automotive vehicle having a window openingand a pair of glass panels mounted in the window opening to form aclosure and having their adjacent edges spaced to form a gap, a flexiblewindow seal for sealing the adjacent edges of the said window glasspanels and closing the said gap comprising a distortable rubberWeatherstrip having a rib portion positioned in the said gap and lipportions overlapping the edges of the panels, an outer molding in theform of a manually flexible metal channel having inwardly turned lips ininterlocking engagement with said Weatherstrip, a plurality of anchorplates positioned within the channel and molded in the said rubberWeatherstrip at spaced intervals, spacers for positively spacing thesaid anchor plates in the form of a thin elongated strip of metal fixedt and between the said anchor plates, and means passing through theinside retainer plate, Weatherstrip and anchor plates for binding thesaid members together and to the window panels.

7. In an automotive vehicle having a window opening and a pair of glasspanels mounted in the window opening to form a closure and having theiradjacent edges spaced to form a gap, a flexible window seal for sealingthe adjacent edges of the said window glass panels and closing the saidgap comprising a distortable rubber weatherstrip having a rib portionpositioned in the said gap and lip portions overlapping the edges of thepanels, an outer molding in the form of a manually flexible metalchannel having inwardly turned lips in interlocking engagement with saidWeatherstrip, an anchor plate positioned within the channel and moldedin the said rubber Weatherstrip, the said anchor plate comprising asingle strip of metal having a plurality of Wide portions provided withthreaded openings and interconnected by elongated narrow portions andscrews passing through the inside retainer plate, Weatherstrip andthreaded openings in the anchor plate for binding the said memberstogether and to the window panels.

ALFRED J. FISHER. EMORY GLENN SIMPSON.

